Wiper device

Abstract

A wiper device is provided. An operating range of each of two sets of wiper arm units can be properly restricted. A first wiper arm unit is prevented from colliding with a first front pillar or a dash panel when a first output shaft of a first speed reduction mechanism has rotated beyond a first control angle, and a second wiper arm unit is prevented from colliding with a second front pillar or the dash panel when a second output shaft of a second speed reduction mechanism has rotated beyond a second control angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wiper device, which is a butterfly type wiper device and is configured to wipe a windshield of a vehicle and having two sets of wiper arm units and two sets of motor apparatuses,
 wherein the vehicle has a pair of first and second front pillars, and a dash panel coupled to the first and second front pillars, 
 the windshield has a pair of side edge portions supported by the first and second front pillars and a front edge portion supported by the dash panel, 
 the wiper device comprises: 
 a first wiper unit including a first wiper arm unit and a first motor apparatus and disposed at a first end portion of the dash panel; and 
 a second wiper unit including a second wiper arm unit and a second motor apparatus and disposed at a second end portion of the dash panel, 
 the first and second wiper units are disposed to face each other, 
 the first motor apparatus has a first speed reduction mechanism and a first electric motor fixed to the first speed reduction mechanism, 
 the second motor apparatus has a second speed reduction mechanism and a second electric motor fixed to the second speed reduction mechanism, 
 the first speed reduction mechanism has a first output shaft reciprocally rotatably driven by the first electric motor and coupled to the first wiper arm unit of the first wiper unit, 
 the second speed reduction mechanism has a second output shaft reciprocally rotatably driven by the second electric motor and coupled to the second wiper arm unit of the second wiper unit, 
 the first motor apparatus comprises: 
 a first position sensor configured to detect a position of the first output shaft of the first speed reduction mechanism; and 
 a first controller configured to generate a first position information signal of the first output shaft on basis of the first position sensor and control a position of the first output shaft within a first control angle that is previously determined, 
 the second motor apparatus has: 
 a second position sensor configured to detect a position of the second output shaft of the second speed reduction mechanism; and 
 a second controller configured to generate a second position information signal of the second output shaft on basis of the second position sensor and control a position of the second output shaft within a second control angle that is smaller than the first control angle, 
 the first controller and the second controller are electrically connected to each other, 
 the first controller supplies the first position information signal to the second controller, 
 the second controller supplies the second position information signal to the first controller, 
 the first output shaft has a first stopper plate, 
 the second output shaft has a second stopper plate, 
 a width of the first stopper plate is smaller than a width of the second stopper plate, 
 the first speed reduction mechanism has a first stopper protrusion that is able to collide with the first stopper plate, 
 the second speed reduction mechanism has a second stopper protrusion that is able to collide with the second stopper plate, 
 the first stopper protrusion and the first stopper plate prevent the first wiper arm unit from colliding with the first front pillar or the dash panel when the first output shaft is rotated beyond the first control angle, and 
 the second stopper protrusion and the second stopper plate prevent the second wiper arm unit from colliding with the second front pillar or the dash panel when the second output shaft is rotated beyond the second control angle. 
 
     
     
       2. The wiper device according to  claim 1 , wherein a shape of a housing of the first speed reduction mechanism is the same as a shape of a housing of the second speed reduction mechanism. 
     
     
       3. The wiper device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first stopper plate is disposed between a housing of the first speed reduction mechanism and the first wiper arm unit and fixed to the first output shaft, and
 the second stopper plate is disposed between a housing of the second speed reduction mechanism and the second wiper arm unit and fixed to the second output shaft. 
 
     
     
       4. The wiper device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wiper arm unit of the first wiper unit and the second wiper arm unit of the second wiper unit operate between a first reversing position close to the dash panel and a second reversing position away from the dash panel to wipe the windshield, and
 the first wiper arm unit of the first wiper unit at the first reversing position is disposed between the second wiper arm unit of the second wiper unit at the first reversing position and the dash panel. 
 
     
     
       5. The wiper device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first motor apparatus is a brushless motor and the second motor apparatus is a brushless motor. 
     
     
       6. The wiper device according to  claim 1 , wherein, the first controller generates the first position information signal at a time when the first stopper plate collides with the first stopper protrusion, and supplies the first position information signal to the second controller of the second motor apparatus, and
 the second controller rotates the second output shaft until the second stopper plate collides with the second stopper protrusion. 
 
     
     
       7. The wiper device according to  claim 1 , wherein, the second controller generates the second position information signal at a time when the second stopper plate collides with the second stopper protrusion, and supplies the second position information signal to the first controller, and
 the first controller rotates the first output shaft until the first stopper plate collides with the first stopper protrusion. 
 
     
     
       8. The wiper device according to  claim 1 , wherein, the second controller generates the second position information signal at a time when the second stopper plate collides with the second stopper protrusion, and supplies the second position information signal to the first controller, and
 the first controller reverses the first output shaft. 
 
     
     
       9. The wiper device according to  claim 1 , wherein, the second controller generates the second position information signal at a time when the second stopper plate collides with the second stopper protrusion, and supplies the second position information signal to the first controller, and
 the first controller stops the first motor apparatus.